4 NEW VISION, Tuesday, February 2, 2016 ELECTION 2016 68 Mbabazi security men defect to NRM By Eddie Ssejjoba were formerly working as private security guards Sixty-eight musclemen and in Iraq, Afghanistan and women, claiming to belong Somalia, while others are to independent presidential veteran soldiers. candidate Amama Mbabazi’s The Team Thorough private security detail have spokesman, Godfrey Kimera defected to the National Babi, said the group would be Resistance Movement (NRM) stationed in to boost camp. the party’s security during the Composed of nine women, days left to the polling day. the group, which claimed He said for some time, they to have participated in the had been persuading the clashes with NRM supporters men, contacting them one in Ntungamo district on by one, to leave the Mbabazi December 12 last year, team and they had studied yesterday evening showed their behaviour since they up at the Team Thorough renounced their membership NRM party offices on Luthuli of Go Forward. Avenue in Kampala, wearing Ssebyala, however, said they T-shirts with the inscriptions have not heard from their of Go Forward, Mbabazi’s leader, Christopher Aine, Leaders of Go Forward from Sebei region in eastern , who defected to NRM, being introduced to political pressure group. since the Ntungamo clashes. supporters of candidate Yoweri Museveni during a rally in , district on Sunday. PPU photo Team Thorough is a group Ntungamo was the scene of mostly youthful NRM of ugly clashes between mobilisers. supporters of the NRM and One of the bodyguards’ Go Forward on December leaders, Peter Okello, read a 12, after which Aine’s name statement before journalists, featured prominently as one stating that they had come out of the perpetrators of the Museveni receives boldly to inform the public violence. that they had officially left Go Aine has since gone missing, Forward and The Democratic prompting the Inspector Alliance pressure groups and General of Police, Gen. Kale joined NRM. Kayihura, to announce a The men accused Mbabazi reward of sh20m for whoever Go Forward executive of neglecting them after they has information leading to his got into problems, citing the arrest. Vision Reporter them by corrupt government officials recent cases where many were Rose Kafeero, one of and pledged to investigate the case of “arrested and not helped by the NRM members who President Yoweri Museveni, the flag- BETWEEN THE LINES: land-grabbing and that of the medical the Go Forward team”. mobilised the musclemen bearer for the National Resistance personnel, who levy financial charges “We have also found lots n The defectors said they quit to defect, said they would Movement (NRM), on Sunday received on patients in Mubende government of sectarian tendencies in Go-Forward Party because it is run continue to sweet-talk more the entire executive of the Go Forward hospital. the TDA/Go Forward camp solely by Amama Mbabazi’s family. people to join NRM and team from Sebei sub-region in eastern He also assured the people of Kassanda and their deliberate desire campaign for President Uganda. that he is going to investigate the alleged to promote hate and tribal Museveni in Kampala. The group, led by the Amama Mbabazi issue of land grabbing by a soldier called campaign messages, which However, Mbabazi’s regional mobiliser, research and cadre in the party because all the affairs are Moses from Kakindu and ensure that the is not good for the peace and spokesperson, Josephine recruitment, Jinnah Jacob Matthew, being run by the family. We came to our matter is resolved. stability of this country,” the Mayanja-Nkangi, said she attended Museveni’s campaign rally senses and said if, at this stage, a family Turning to development, candidate statement read. was not aware of the group in Kassanda North constituency in is running the affairs of the party; what Museveni assured the people of George Ssebyala, one of the that allegedly defected to , where the candidate will happen when he becomes President Kassanda that the road from alleged security men, said NRM. She said if they were introduced them to NRM supporters. of Uganda? That is why we decided to to Kassanda-- will be joining NRM demonstrated security personnel for her Jinnah, in the company of other come back home. NRM is an all-inclusive tarmacked. that they were sorry for what candidate, then they ought to members, including the women party that embraces unity,” he said. He was delighted to note that electricity happened in Ntungamo and be on the campaign trail, not mobiliser for the Go Forward Party in Museveni, who was accompanied by has been extended to Kassanda North, were willing to work with in town (Kampala). She said Sebei sub-region, Betty Musani, said the First Lady and Minister for Karamoja where he fought the liberation war. NRM supporters as brothers someone had also called her they quit Go Forward because it is solely Affairs, Janet Museveni, thanked the Museveni promised to ensure that all and sisters. asking about the men, but she run by Amama Mbabazi’s family. people of Kassanda North constituency the other areas that had no electricity, They said most of them did not know them. “We realised that we had no chance for disclosing the ills meted out on get it. NRM party releases cash for constituency campaigns

By Eddie Ssejjoba stages. They will soon be logistics during the door-to- an extra sh20,000 for airtime “Each of the 67,000 NRM village getting this cash because it is door campaign and party per day, while party parish The National Resistance our obligation to support our meetings. chairpersons will get sh20,000. Movement (NRM) party has committees throughout the candidates,” he stated. In a communication read Nyombi said the teams should set aside billions of shillings to Sebalu said the party had by the state minister for ICT carry out voter education and facilitate its constituency flag- country will receive sh250,000 for embarked on door-to-door Nyombi Thembo during the explain to the people the NRM bearers’ campaigns ahead of campaigns throughout the launch of the presidential party manifesto and the voting the February general elections. country as one of the strategies campaign taskforce for guidelines, which he said had The facilitation would be a refreshments and other logistics to get direct access to all voters. Kampala Central last week, been amended. big boost to NRM candidates, He, however, appealed to the Lumumba said each district He also urged the team to ask who badly needed financial during the door-to-door campaign Ministry of Internal Affairs to must have a sub-taskforce people to collect their national support for logistical support decentralise the National ID comprising 42 members. identity cards, saying about for their campaign teams and and party meetings.”Lumumba issuance to enable more people Each member will get 2.7 million cards were still to traverse their constituencies collect their cards, which would sh30,000 per day for six days unclaimed at the districts yet in the days left to polling day. be required for one to cast his for lunch, refreshments and they would be required at the According to Mike Kennedy sailing through to Parliament the revelation would cause or her vote. transport, while their supervisor polling station. Sebalu, the presidential unopposed in addition to 16 unnecessary anxiety among Meanwhile, the NRM party will collect sh50,000 daily. The Kampala Central district campaign taskforce district chairpersons. the constituents, but termed it secretary general, Kasule Members who attended the NRM chairperson, Salim spokesman, the party Addressing the press at the as ‘reasonable’. Lumumba, has explained that meeting at the NRM offices on Uhuru, said his mission fielded candidates in all the NRM secretariat yesterday, “We are going to facilitate all each of the 67,000 NRM village Mukwano Mall were also given included changing the 397 directly and indirectly Sebalu, however, declined our constituency flag-bearers committees throughout the sh50,000 for food. perception that the central elected constituencies, with to state the figure each and the process of giving out country will receive sh250,000 Lumumba said all NRM district was a fertile ground for 14 party legislators already candidate would get, saying the money is in advanced for refreshments and other branch chairpersons will get the opposition.